Display holder



R. W. BECKETT Feb. 16, 1965 DISPLAY HOLDER Filed Dec. 5, 1962 INV EN TOR. 19/04 420 1a fiA-C'Kff United States. Patent 3,169,740 DISPLAY HGLDER Richard W. Beckett, 43d Brannan St, San Francisco, Calif.. Filed Dec. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 242,523 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-46) This invention relates to a device suitable for holding a display in a supermarket or the like, and more particularly relates to a device for holding a pole to which may be attached a display, flag, or of er device.

It is frequently desirable to provide a temporary yet sturdy holder for a pole which may be used as an advertising display holder. In the past, it has been necessary to either provide a relatively heavy base for holding the pole or to provide some more or less permanent attachment means whereby the pole can be attached to an existing structure. Such devices are, of necessity, relatively heavy, expensive, and inconvenient to transport and install.

In accordance with the present invention, a sturdy yet simple pole holder is made of a single sheet of die cut paperboard or similar stifi material which can be folded into such form that two or more arms extend from the generally rectangular form to hold a pole or similar article. Since such displays are frequently used in supermarkets where canned goods of all sizes are available, the canned goods themselves form suitable weights for use in the base of the present invention, giving it great stability. The cans of material which are used as weights are not marred or defaced in any manner, so that they can be readily returned to stock when the display is taken down. Thus, the device of the present invention comprises a sheet of flat material which has little weight or bulk and yet which can be folded into a sturdy display holder utilizing canned goods as weights for the base.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1 with a pole in position.

FIGURE 3 is a view of the die cut sheet used to contruct the device of FIGURE 1, showing the sheet in its flat condition.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another device embodying the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, and referring particularly to FIGURES 1-3, there is shown a device which is made from a single sheet of material, generally designated 5. As can be seen from FIG- URE 3, the sheet is elongated and is divided by fold lines 7, 9, 11 and 13 into five segments, including a first end segment 15, a second end segment 17, and a segment 18 adjacent end segment 17. In the first end segment 15, a partial cutout 19 is provided having a fold line 21 attaching it to the end segment 15, and is cut out along the line 23. The line 23 is shown in arcuate form, but it is obvious that this is only for purposes of appearance and symmetry and that the cutout could take other shapes. The cutout has a hole 25 in the center thereof for the reception of a pole or the like. In the opposite or second end segment 17, a similar cutout 27 is provided having a similar hole 29 and a cutout line 31, leaving the partial "ice cutout attached to the sheet material along an imaginary line which would form a continuation of the fold line 13. However, the cutout 27 is not folded along its line of attachment for reasons which will be later apparent.

Also located in the end segment 17 is a slot 33, the length of the slot 33 being approximately the same as the width of the partial cutout 19, and the thickness of the slot 33 being approximately the thickness of the stiff material from which the device is made. To utilize the device, it is folded along the fold lines described into the structure shown in FIGURE 1, with the first end segment 15 underlying the second end segment 17 and with the partial cutout 19 extending through the slot 33, while the other cutout 27 extends outwardly from the segment 18 to which it is attached, so that the holes 25 and 2% are brought into alignment. A pole 35 or similar device can now be inserted through the two holes, whereupon it will be held upright. In order to provide weight for the device, ordinary cans of merchandise 37 such as large fruit juice cans can be placed within the hollow space thus formed. Thus, a sturdy support is provided, one which is inexpensive to make and light and easy to carry. When the need for the display ceases, the cans which were used as weights can be merely returned to stock, while the cardboard structure can either be discarded or reused at another location.

In FIGURE 4, another embodiment of the invention is shown wherein a sheet of stiff material is formed into five segments, including two end segments 38 and 39. In this embodiment of the device, a relatively large rectangular slot 41 is formed in the outer end segment 38, while two partial cutouts 43 and 45 are formed on the inner segment 39. The two cutouts are folded outwardly from the segment 39 and passed through the slot 41 in the overlying end segment, so that the two cutouts are brought into alignment. Here again, a can 47 of merchandise can be used as a weight.

Although the holes for the reception of the pole can be round, it is preferred that they have the keyhole shape illustrated. This is because if the edge of a hole is so close to a fold in the stock, it has a tendency to tear when a pole is inserted. This shape also allows a little tolerance in the event the poles run slightly oversize. The shape also helps compensate for the thickness of the material along the score line when the material is folded out.

Various changes can be made in the device without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, more than two cutouts might be used. If more than two are used in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-3, the additional ones should be in the segment 15, while segment 17 would then be provided with an additional slot to receive it. Further, sizes may be altered so that three or four cans of merchandise might be used as the weight rather than the one or two cans illustrated.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a simple yet effective holder for a pole or the like and one which can be made of inexpensive material, easily transported, and yet which will support a substantial display.

I claim:

1. A holder for a pole or the like comprising a generally rectangular sheet of stiff material, said sheet having a plurality of partial cutouts, each of said cutouts being at- 3 1' tached'to' the sheetmaterial; a hole in each of said cutouts, said holes being in alignment When the cutouts are folded outwardly at right angles to said sheet; and a hole in said sheet through which at least one of said cutouts can protrude, said sheet having fold lines thereon to divide the same into five segments whereby said sheet can be folded into a generally rectangular structure having tnree sides composed of a single thickness of said material and a fourth side of a double thickness formed by overlying end segments of said stiif material with at least one cutout protruding therefrom. V

2. A holder for a pole or the like comprising a generally rectangular sheet of stiff material, said sheet being divided by fold lines' into five segments whereby saidsheet can be folded into a rectangular structure Withthe two end segments overlapping; a first partial cutout having a fold line attaching it to a first end segment; and a second said sheet can be folded into rectangular form with the first partial cutout extending outwardly through said slot and With the second partial cutout extending at right angles 7 to the second end segment, said holes being thus bronght a into alignment for the reception of a pole or'the like.

References Cited by theExarniner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,648 1/25 Pickett 211'73 2,622,899 12/52 Abrams 211-69 X CLAUDEA. LE O Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER FOR A POLE OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHEET OF STIFF MATERIAL, SAID SHEET HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARTIAL CUTOUTS, EACH OF SAID CUTOUTS BEING ATTACHED TO THE SHEET MATERIAL; A HOLE IN EACH OF SAID CUTOUTS, SAID HOLES BEING IN ALIGNMENT WHEN THE CUTOUTS ARE FOLDED OUTWARDLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID SHEET; AND A HOLE IN SAID SHEET THROUGH WHICH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CUTOUTS CAN PROTRUDE, SAID SHEET HAVING FOLD LINES THEREON TO DIVIDE THE SAME INTO FIVE SEGMENTS WHEREBY SAID SHEET CAN BE FOLDED INTO A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR STRUCTURE HAVING THREE SIDES COMPOSED OF A SINGLE THICKNESS OF SAID MATERIAL AND A FOURTH SIDE OF A DOUBLE THICKNESS FORMED BY OVERLYING END SEGMENTS OF SAID STIFF MATERIAL WITH AT LEAST ONE CUTOUT PROTRUDING THEREFROM. 